DVD : Adventures of Captain Marvel

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Shazam! It's Captain Marvel vs. The Scorpion
Definitely the finest of the old-time movie serials, and the finest live action version of Captain Marvel. This movie was voted by Wizard magazine as the best comics-to-movie adaptation ever.

It has decent special effects and a fine story. A classic desert adventure, including angry horde, offended god, and stalwart hero. The flying sequences are well done. The cliff hangers are appropriately dramatic. The Scorpion is a nice serial villain, complete with hooded face and ultimate weapon, and Captain Marvel remains my favorite hero.

If you like serials or Captain Marvel you really can't go wrong with this.

Rating:

- Marvel-ous! Fun for the whole family
The only complaint I have is that this serial didn't continue for another 12 chapters. You'll be hooked on serials for life after watching this one. Everything in this serial hits on all cylinders. The nerdy Batson, the villainous Scorpion,the wisecracking pal, the stodgy professors and the scrappy secretary are all superbly cast and acted. Tom Tyler, a stunt man and actor who later played the Mummy in one of the Universal monster movies,plays Captain Marvel with appropriate heroic stoicism. We're treated to mad villains with grand schemes,deathtraps and terrifying weapons.The effects surprisingly hold up today, especially the flying scenes. Sets the standard for movie serials.

Rating:

- Greatest Serial
The 40s serial "The Adventures of Captain Marvel" has to be the "Greatest Serial Ever Made." The special effects, for its tme, are outstanding. The flying scenes stood the test of time until the first Superman movie.

Many in the cast do a fine job. Tom Tyler makes an excellent Captain Marvel. He looks the part and he demonstrates the great athletic ability required of the part. The actor playing Billy Batson leaves a lot to be desired. He delivers his lines as a Junior High student would do in a school play. The "bad guys" are just great. They fill the bill in typical 1940s serial style.

By today's standards, the plot is childish, but for its time and targeted audience it must have proved to be exciting from week to week. Anyone with a penchant for memoribelia would surely want this video in their collection.

Rating:

- Lots of Old Fashioned Fun!
Extremely imaginative and brimming with first rate special effects, The Adventures of Captain Marvel is lots of old-fashioned fun from start to finish. Certainly one of the best serials of the 1940s.

Rating:

- Marvel a Brilliant Marvel!
This has to rank among my top favorite serials of all-time. Tom Tyler looks magnificent as our flying hero (although nearly all of his stunts are by ace stunt wizard, David Sharpe). This is a perfect rendition of a comic book. The cast plays it completly straight and the climax of each cliffhanger leave you breathless. This classic serial ranks way up there along with: Daredevils of the Red Circle, Spy Smasher, King of the Texas Rangers, Manhunt in Darkest Africa (with Joan Marsh a terrific heroine); and G-Men Versus the Black Dragon (blessed with another feisty heroine, Constance Moore). Doesn't Republic Studios realize that we serial buffs would like to see ALL their serial library! Would love to view "Jungle Girl" with Francis Gifford, "Drums of Fu Manchu", Jack Armstrong, etc.

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